Water motor



F. W. HESS.

WATER MOTOR.

Dec. 19,1922.

3 SHEETS-SHED l.

FILED JUNE 5, 192i.

u abbozuuq Dec. 19, 1922. 1,439,416..

1 F- W. HESS.

WATER MOTOR.

F|LED JUNE 6. 1921. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Dec. 19, 1922.

F w. HESS. WATER MOTOR.

' Patented net. 19, 1922.

- rs ves errace;

[ FRANCIS W. nnssyor nztirsrown, VIRGINIA.

warns oron.

Application filed June 6,

Motors, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had. tothe accompany.- ing drawings.

It is the purpose of the present invention to provide an improved motor of this general character, for the purpose of accumulating power to be derived from: various.

streams, and in accomplishing this purpose it is the aim to utilize a flume and slu ceway constructed in the. stream, with power generating means inthe sluicewayto beacs tuated by the water as .it passes throughthe, flume and the sluiceway, so that the power may be utilized for operating various-machinery, such as mills, generators and thelike. l

Another purpose embodies the provision of means for diverting a part or substantially the entire volume of waterthrough. I

the iiume, in COHlblllLt-lOHJVlilll means for controlling the discharge of the water into the sluiceway. In fact the discharge of the water may be mainly controlledby amanually operated water gate, there also being means operatively connectedywith themotor.v

or power generating means, torIautomat-L cally controlling the discharge of the water into the sluiceway according to the .speed m? the motor or generating n'ieans.

A still further. purpose is to providejan.

apparatus of this general charactenwherein the operative connections between'the motor or power generating means and the'governor mechanism are centrally loc ated'relatively to the motor or power generating means, so 7 I as to equalize the strain upon the moving stream.

parts of the motor, I i p I A further purpose consists in the pro.-

vision. of an endless traveler with depend ing buckets including gravity membersor parts, which move into operative positions, partially by gravity, and partially bythe contact of the water with extensions of said.

parts or elements, so that saidpartsor elements may drag'Or engage the bottom,

of the sluiceway, so that the fullwfor'ce of the water on the buckets may be available.

A still further purpose embodies guides,

in the lower portions of theopp'osite walls of the sluiceway tor receiving parts of the 1921. Serial No.. 475,317.

' bucketgflto guide the parts or elements of the buckets. toprevent them from move-3 ment u m'ard. therebv avoidin them clos losing the effect of the force of the water.

Additionally the invention aims to provide rneans at the ends of the guides, or rather extensions of theguides, and which are eccentrn= to the center of the end of the endless traveler, to receive parts of the gravity members of the buckets, to guide.

sai gravity elements into the guides, said extensions acting to-limit, in fact to prevent upward movement of the gravity parts orelements oi the buckets, particularly at points where the water may have a tendency to close the gravity elements or parts of the.

buckets.

Also a further purpose embodiesthe pro- X 1S10ll of means for regulating the tension ot the endless traveler, so as to derive the best results, and .to' insure holding the endless traveler in position durlng the operationofthe motor. I

While, the design and construction at present illustrated and, set forth is deemed preferable, itis ohvious that as a result of a reduction of the invention to aniore practical-form 'for commercial purposes, the invention may he susceptible of changes, and

thefright to these changes is claimed, pro.- vided they are comprehended within the scope of what is claimed. k, I The inventioncomprises further features andcombination of parts, as will be hereinatter set forth, shown in "the drawings and claimed.

lnthe draw ngs:.

igurel 1s a "plan view oi the improved watermotor constructed in accordance with the invention, and shownas applied to -.a fiume; and sluiceway constructed in a Figure 2 a, vertical longitudinal sectional view through the motor, thereby disclosingthe essential'features 0t construc-.

tion. I he H v Figure 3. is a transverse sectional, View on line 393 of Flgure 1,

the sluiceway, showing one of the outside connecting'chains ot the motor, and illustrating sprockets for holding the lower part of the chain in position and preventing saggingf j I V,

Figure 5 is a view inside elevation of 1.105 Figure is a view in side elevation of according to the tr vel. of the, endless.

, sumesubstantially its usual course.

a portionof the ,flume and sluiceway, showing the governor mechanism which controls the discharge of the Water from the flume traveler.

, Figure (5 is an enlarged detail view ofithe. means for holding the manually operated gate in difi'erent positions.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail View 1n side elevation of the means for tighteningor tensioning the endless traveler.

Figure?) is a sectional view on line 88 oi Figure? Figure 9 is an enlarged detail view of one or two of the links of one of the chains of the traveler, showing how the buckets connected thereto.

Figure 10 is a detail view of a portion of the manually operated gate, showing the rack thereon.

Figure'il is a detail view'ot a member of the chain tightener or tensioning device.

Figure 12 isa detail perspective view of the two parts of one of the buckets of the endless traveler, showing the manner of conneeting the-part to thepart of the bucket which is attached. to the chains.

Figure 13 is a detail sectional view through one ofthe roller bearings for one 0-5 the shafts'S, 10 and 11.

Referring, to the drawings, 1 designates the stream of water, which may be of a character, a

suitable for operating a motor ot the present kind, andQ denotes a flume, which may be any suitable size, according to the amount of water to be directed thereinto, and yet not of a size to occupy the'full width of the stream. In this wayaportion or the greater volume of water maybe diverted through the flum'e," in order to derive the greatest amount of power therefrom.

This flume may be constructed ofany suit;

able material, wood or: the like, preferably concrete, brick or stone. Hingedly mounted to the side of the tiume nearest the center of the stream, as a 3 is the current diverting gate 4. This gate may swing from its dotted line posit-ion, to its full line position, and

connected to'the gate as at 5 is a bar or rod 6,

which may be operated by any suitable means (not shown), for the purpose of shifting thegate one way or the other. Obviouslywhen the gate assumes a position as shown in dotted lines, substantially the entire body of the stream is diverted to one side of the fiume, allowing the stream to re- I However when the gate is moved to the/ full line position, substantially the entire body of the stream is diverted through the fiume, and the idea o1"- contracting the water in its flow,

insures a greater force of powerof the fluid during its travel through the flume and the 'sluiceway. Obviously the gate l may assume positions intermediate the dotted and full line positions, so that parts of thestream may*enterthe flume, and parts be diverted to one side of the flume, andvice versa Extending i ro nthe fiume and constructed of any suitable material preferably concrete,

ibrickaorstone or the like is a sluiceway T,

which may have any suitable inclination relativelyto' the fiume, in order to insure the the; brackets as atfl'? are buckets 18 against .whichithe water operates, for propelling the endless't'ravelers or chains 15. Each bucket comprises the partliland the gravitymow able part QOQ The parts 19 of each bucket are fastened-to the brackets of the endless travelers or chains, while the parts 20 drag or travel upon the bottom of thesluiceway. The parts 20 have ribs or beads 21, which engage between the lugs 22 of the parts 19, there being hinge pinsQS hingedly uniting the parts, so that the parts 20 may move by gravity'in orderto drag upon the bottom of the sluiceway. The hinge pin 23 has its ends extended as shown Lt 100 beyond the end edges of the' buckets, so as to engage the groove 101 so as to hold the endless sprocket chain 15 in position,'and thereby keep the link chains in; engagement with the. and teeth of the intermediate sprockets. n 2 partsQO of the buekets have extensions 24-. and lugs 25. When the buckets are traveling over, the sprockets, the parts assun'ie positions substantially at right angles to the parts 19, in view oi. the fact'that the lugs 25 act to limitthe parts 20 insuch positions, Howeveigwhen the buckets are passing over the sprockets 12., and when they are approaching-the lower part or the bottom of gravity, and engagea wall 26 at a point ,where thesluioeway adjoins the flume. Aidjacent where the sluicewayadjoins the Plume a contracted passage 27, substantially.eorre spendin to the space between the lower parts of the chains 15 and the bottom oi the sluiceway, is constructed. Therefore when the parts 20 are'traveling adjacent the wall 26, the:waterpassingthrough the passage 27 contacts with the extensions 2 of the parts 20, and the force of the'water acts to dispose tl1e,parts 2() in their proper positions, for travel through the sluiceway. The opposite edges of the parts 200i the buckets adjacent lUO less propeller traveler. as well as to avoid irtheir end edges are provided with lugs or projections 28. which enter the arcuate guides 29 of the guides or grooves 30. The extension guides 29 are eccentric to; the shaft 9 of the sprockets 12, thereby holding the parts 20 of the buckets at less obtuse angles to the parts 19 of the buckets, than when the parts 20 are traveling or dragging upon the. bottom of the sluiceway. Also owing to the eccentric dispositions of the arcuate extensions 29 with the lugs or projections 28 engaging therein prevents the parts 20 from assuming or approaching the right angle positions, previously assumed by the parts 20 when traveling over the upper parts, of the sprockets. Any other suitable connection between the parts 20and the sides of the sluiceway may be employed, but it to be remembered that the essential feature is to derive all the power possiblefrom the force ofthe water in passing t rough the passage 27; In order to accomplish this result, thebuckets should substantially fill. the

width of the sluiceway, without their-end edges having any great amount of frictional. contact with the sides of the sluicewa-y.

The shafts-.9, 10 and '11 are of sufficient length to project beyond the rollerbean ings 8, and fixed to the extremities of these shafts are additional sprockets 31, 32 and 33, which are engaged by the endless sprocket chains 34:. By means of these ad ditional endless chains, and their cooperative sprockets, uniform movement of J the moving parts of the motor are assured. Furthermore the uniformity of movementis such as to avoid any strain upon the endregularity in'the movement of the chains.

Rising upwardly upon opposite sides of the sluceway are upright supports 35, and. mounted in roller bearings 36at their upper ends is a power transmitting shaft 37. w This shaft on'its extremities carry sprockets 38, which engage: the upper parts of the chains 34:. g Centrally disposed upon the shaft 3'? is a smaller sprocket 39, about which the sprocket chain 40 engages.- The sprockets .38 and 39 are fast to the shaft 37, and since these sprockets arerelatively reinforced by the connecting rods 41, uniformity ofv movement of such parts is assured. Furthermore owing to this particular[connection and means, of transmitting power, thereis no strain, or irregular drag on one side more than the other. In fact the transmission of power is uniform from the chains 34 to the sprockets 38, and from the sprocket 39 to the jack shaft 42 through the medium of the sprocket 43 and the sprocket chain 40. The jack shaft 42' is mounted in roller bearings 45, which are similar to those; in which the shafts 9, 10 and 11 are mounted, and carried by the jack shaft'42- is a.-

sprocket 46, about which sprocket chain 47 engages. A; counter shaft -18 is mounted in roller bearings 49 of the supports 50. and is provided with a sprocket 51 about which the chain it engages. A bevel gear 52 is carried by and rotatablewith the shaft 48, and isin turn in mesh with the bevel gear 53, which is rotatable with the shaft The shaft 54: is arranged vertically. and is mounted in bearings and 56. A governor 57 is carried bythe shaft 5land includes a vertical sliding sleeve or collar 58, which is connected to the, governor arms by the links :39. pivotally mounted at 61 on the side of the fiume, and one of the arms 62 thereof has forks 63 provided with slots (i-e, which engage the lateral pins65. V A shaft 66 extends transversely of the passage 2? of the flume,

butterfly water in A bell crank lever 60 the jack and into I the sluiceway. When the flow of water is rapid, the endless travelers or chains l3 willoperate relatively fast,,and owing to a terfly valve may be regulated.

Mounted 1n guides 70 of the fluineis a wvater controlling gate 71, provided with 74 is a pinion 7 6, which meshes with a gear 77, which is carried by astub shaft 7 8 also mounted in bearings; of one of the flume walls. A dog 79 is pivoted at 80 to the side of one of the flume'walls andengages the pinion 76. The gate 71 may be operated by grasping the handle 81, which will impart movement to the gear 77, and in turn move the pinion 76, causing the shaft 74 to rotate. The pinions 73 will cause the gate 71 to raise and lower, and by means of the dog 79 the gatemay be held in different adjusted positions, according to the amount of water to be permitted to enter the fiume. The bearings 8 mounted are dovetailed in the guides 82 of the bearing supporting plates 83. plates have ratchet teeth 84c, and pivoted upon the bearings, (which are mounted in said guides) as at 85 are dogs 86, which are designed to engage by gravity with the ratchet teeth 84. A shaft '87 is mounted in Theshaft 74L These the operative connections. between the mo torand the governor, mechanism, the but- 0 in which the shaft 11 is c jack shaft 42, power may bearings 88. which are mounted upon the upper edges of the sluiceway walls, and carried bythe shafts are drums 89; Chains E O-are connected, to and wound about the drums, and are in turn connected to the eyes ill of the bearings, which are mounted in said guides 82. A hand wheel 92 is carried by the shaft 87, therefore by imparting a revoluble movement to the shaft 87 causing the chains 90 to wind upon the drums 89. the bearings which carry the.

shaft 1]. may be adjusted in their guides 82, thereby tightening or tensioning the various sprocket chains of the motor, should they loosen, due to the strain thereon.

The jack shaft 42 extends over the side of a the bani-i oi? the stream, and may be coupled operate other electrical apparatus, for the purpose of providing electrical current for some suitable installation. By virtue of an apparatus of this kind, various local ties may be furnished with current, 1 01;

lighting, heating, and furnishing power of any kind, for the welfare of the community.

As previously stated the water oi the stream is controlled, so as to either pass to one side oi the fluine or sluiceway, or the entire volume may be diverted into the fluine and sluiceway. In the operation of the motor, the water will impart movement to the endless travelers, such as the chains 15 with the buckets thereon, and since the upper parts of these chains 15 are geared with the be transmitted to any suitable source.

The invention having been setforth, what is claimed as beingusetul is:

1. In an apparatus for the purpose indi- .d, a Hume, a sluicewayhaving a passage oi. communication therewith, power generating means comprising endless travelers mounted in the sluiceway, said sluiceway having its sides provided with guides, the

endless travelers having water impelled buckets provided with gravity bucket elements having means engaging sa d guides,

certain ends of the guides having extensions eccentric with the center of one end of the endless travelers, into which the means on the gravity elements of the buckets engage, to prevent the gravity elements from assuining positions transversely of the water in its flow.

2. In an apparatus for the purpose indi- However if harnessed or coupled to catcd, the combination, a rtlume having a sluiceway, endless travelers mounted in the ce .vay and provided with guides, fluid impelled luickets mounted on the endless travelers operable in the lower portions of thesluiceway, a passage communicating the fiume and the sluiceway, means inv said passage to control the, water in its flow therethrough, a power transmitting shatt operatively connecting with the endless travele '3, and means connecting with the power transmission shaft and said means in the passage tor governing the latter, thereby controlling the water in its flow, means for diverting the vcater: of the stream into the flame, or to one side thereof, and means conendless travelers,.into'which the means on the gravity elements of the buckets engage,

to prevent the gravity elements from. assuming positions transversely the water in its flow, and means carried by the gravity elements for causing them to feather the water while the guiding and holding means of the elements are entering the extension guides.

In an apparatus for the purpose indicated, a iiume, a sluiceway having a passage of communication therewith, power generating meanscomprising endless, travelers mounted in the sluiceway, said sluiceway having its sides provided with guides, the

endless travelers having water impelled buckets provided with gravity bucket elements having means engaging said guides, certain ends of the guides having extensions eccentric with the center of one end oi the endless-travelers, into which-the means on the gravity elen'ients of the buckets engage,v to prevent the gravity elements from assuming positions transversely of the water in its fiow, and means carried by the gravity ele ments for causing them to feather the water while the guiding and holding means of the elements are entering theextension guides,

and means for increasing or decreasing the liume, a sluiceway having a passage on the bottom of the sliuceway, and means tion at right angles to the buckets when moving with the upper part ot the travelers.

6. In an apparatus as and for the purpose indicated, a sluicew'ay having an inlet for the water in its flow and provided with guides in its opposite walls, of .a motor comprising endless travelers mounted for operation in the sluiceway, said travelers having water impelled buckets provided with gravity bucket elements for operation on the bottom of the sluiceway, and means for limitmg the bucket elements in position at right angles to the buckets when moving with the upper part of the travelers, said bucket elements when starting to move with the under parts of the travelers adapted to assumeobtuse angle positions relatively to the'buckets, and means to prevent the bucket elements from resuming their 7 relative right angle positions to the buckets. a

7. In an apparatus as and for the purpose indicated, a sluiceway having an inlet for the water in its flow and provided with guides in its opposite walls, of a motor comprising endless travelers mounted for operation in the sluiceway, said travelers having water impelled buckets provided with gravity bucket elements for operation on the bottom of the sluiceway, and means for limiting the bucket elements in position at right angles to the buckets when moving with the upper part of the travelers, said bucket elements when starting to move with the under tuse angle positions relatively to the buckets, and means to prevent the bucket elements parts of the travelers adapted to assume ob- I from resuming their relative right angle,

positions to the buckets, and means carried by the bucket elements 'to be acted upon by the water in its flow for causing said. last mentioned means to operate. Y

8.-In,an apparatus as and for the purpose indicated, a sluiceway having an inlet for the water in its flow and provided with guides in its opposite walls, of a motor comprising endless travelers mounted for operawith the upper part of the travelers, said bucket elements when startingto move with the under parts of the travelers adapted to assume obtuse angle positions relatively to the buckets, and means to prevent the bucket elements fror resuming their relative right vangle positions to the buckets, a fiume connected with the inlet, a butterfly valve mounted in the inlet, means operatively connected with the endless travelers and with the butterfly valve to control the latter, and

thereby regulate the water in its flow into the inlet and through the flume.

'In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

FRANCIS W. HESS. 

